Shot glass package

ABSTRACT

An alcoholic beverage package, said package comprising a base member with a plurality of upper cover flap members integral to and hinged to the base member. A handle member is mounted to an outer surface of one of the upper cover flap members, the handle member being adapted to fit into a slot defined by an opposite flap member allowing the flap members to be secured together over the base member forming a chamber. A plurality of shot glasses are mounted inside the chamber and supported by the base member with the shot glasses being held in place within the chamber by an insert member mounted to the base member and engaging said shot glasses. Each of the shot glasses contains an alcoholic spirit and has a sealed removable lid. A second integral insert is secured to the base member and is provided with a plurality of spaced apertures which hold and space said shot glasses.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority and benefits from the parent provisional patent Application No. 62/632,356 filed Feb. 19, 2018.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISC APPENDIX

None.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of Invention

The present invention generally relates to beverage packaging and more particularly to a shot caddy container holding sealed shot glasses filled with various types and/or flavored alcoholic liquids.

The present invention thus relates to packaging and sales of different alcoholic beverages in sealed shot glasses in a single package wherein the different alcoholic beverages are packaged separately for future use, until such time as they are consumed or mixed with other beverages for consumption.

The present invention allows the consumer to easily handle and transport a compact hand carried package holding unmixed alcoholic beverages in separate prefilled sealed shot glasses for social occasions, parties or individual consumption as a straight alcoholic drink or for predetermined volumes for use in mixing cocktails.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Imbibing shots of liquor is sometimes a shared social experience or celebration with friends or simply to celebrate a particular occasion or event. In some instances, multiple shots are served to one or more people who will imbibe the shots in succession or compare the taste characteristics of different types or flavors of spirits. When a person is handling more than one liquor shot at a time, the person often has to try and balance each individual shot in their hand without spilling the liquor contents. Furthermore, the consumer is presently limited to one type of liquor which can lead to transportation problems and potential spillage when pouring and serving. Consumers of alcoholic beverages, both those interested in private consumption and those involved in festive occasions or parties regardless of size, commonly purchase spirits separately, and then transport the spirits separately to consume either separately or mixed. This results in inconvenience and sometimes difficulty transporting multiple products at the same time, and often results in the wrong mixed ratio upon dispensing.

At sporting events and social gatherings, when a person needs to carry several drinks, it is frequently very difficult to manage these drinks at one time, especially if there are food or serving glasses or mixers which are also being served. Many beverage trays have been designed to carry several drinks, but invariably, these require the use of both hands. Indeed, most of these prior art beverage carriers have one or more additional disadvantages.

At the present time it is known to package and store beverages in cans and bottles. The field of relevant art includes the packaging of alcoholic beverages, typically beer. Also relevant to this invention is the packaging and storage of different alcoholic beverages in equal volume containers in a single container.

Many of the prior art beverage container holders are flimsy, unwieldy and unstable. Some of the holders must be placed on a supporting surface before any of the beverage containers can be removed from the holder. Also, very few beverage container holders have been designed to hold multiple beverage containers. These prior art designs are difficult to hold without spilling the beverages or are cumbersome. Thus, there has been a long-felt need for an improved beverage container holder for ready to consume spirits.

It is known in the prior art to package a mixed variety of glasses to a container. U.S. Pat. No. 3,966,102 issued Jun. 29, 1976 discloses a carrier for drinkware in the nature of a plurality of glasses mounted around the periphery of a tapered beverage container.

U.S. Patent Application Publication Number US2013/0020219 published Jan. 24, 2013 is directed toward a platform with hole cutouts providing a structure for carrying multiple shot glasses. An inner circular wall in each of the shot glass hole cutouts has a diameter that allows the shot glasses to be carried with a center of mass at or below the platform.

U.S. Patent Application Publication Number US2011/0290691 published Dec. 1, 2011 is directed toward a multi-beverage packaging configuration which includes a plurality of single-serve beverage containers together with one or more mix beverage containers. The publication discloses a shot glass inverted over a liquor or spirit module.

U.S. Pat. No. 8,002,129 issued Aug. 23, 2011 is directed toward a bottle for holding liquor which has two shot glasses disposed in a first inner compartment and a second inner compartment which are cut into the bottle body.

The present invention overcomes the problems and deficiencies currently present in the prior art and these problems are solved by this invention in the manner described below.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention discloses a plurality of beverage units or shot glasses contained within the same package and presented as separate individual beverage units. The invention is directed toward to the packaging, transportation, and sale of liquor in an individually packed and sealed shot glass format. The package configuration can be sold at retail in the same manner as other containers of spirits, and can be marketed in separate displays in close proximity to other spirits where permitted by law. The configuration is designed to permit the convenience of carrying multiple sealed beverages in a fixed volume serving units in a single package while offering a variety of individual drinks. The configuration may be convenient for myriad of occasions, including, but not limited to, individual consumption, festive occasions, small gatherings, and so on and allows for individual selection of different varieties of spirts. This package provides a similar consumer convenience for liquor to that already provided for beer in six packs.

It is an object of the invention to provide a carrying container holding sealed shot glasses filled with different spirits or different flavored spirits.

It is another object of the invention to allow merchants to market and sell the shot glass spirits as a combined package to introduce consumers to different types or flavors of spirits.

It is yet another object of the invention to allow consumers to transport shot glass spirits as a single package for distribution at a social function.

These and other objects, advantages, and novel features of the present invention will become apparent when considered with the teachings contained in the detailed disclosure along with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be described with reference to the appended Figures, in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of the inventive beverage pack in a 6 shot glass configuration;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged side perspective view of the inventive glass beverage pack of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side perspective view of an inventive beverage pack with a 12 shot glass configuration;

FIG. 4 is a side perspective view of an inventive beverage pack with a 24 shot glass configuration;

FIG. 5 is an open plan view of the beverage pack of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a side elevational enlarged view of the handle used in the beverage pack embodiment of FIGS. 1-5;

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of the handle sections closed with a tab;

FIG. 8 is an end elevational view of the beverage pack of FIGS. 1 and 2 when closed.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of two types of shot glasses namely straight and tapered which can be used with all embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is an end elevational view of another embodiment of the inventive beverage pack in a 6 straight shot glass configuration;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the embodiment of the beverage pack of FIG. 10 showing the shot glasses in phantom and the handle removed;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the embodiment of the beverage pack of FIG. 10 showing the top shot glass insert and shot glasses in phantom and the handle removed;

FIG. 13 is a plan view of the beverage pack of FIG. 10;

FIG. 14 is a plan view of the beverage pack of FIG. 10 with the shot glasses top insert attached;

FIG. 15 is an end elevational view of the embodiment of the inventive beverage pack in a 6 tapered shot glass configuration;

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the embodiment of the beverage pack of FIG. 15 showing the shot glasses in phantom and the handle removed;

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of the embodiment of the beverage pack of FIG. 16 showing the top shot glass insert and shot glasses in phantom and the handle removed;

FIG. 18 is a plan view of the beverage pack of FIG. 15;

FIG. 19 is a plan view of the beverage pack of FIG. 15 with the shot glasses top insert attached;

FIG. 20 is an end elevational view of an embodiment of the inventive beverage pack in a 12 straight shot glass configuration;

FIG. 21 is an end elevational view of the embodiment of the inventive beverage pack of FIG. 20 provided with tapered shot glasses;

FIG. 22 is a plan view of the beverage pack of FIG. 21;

FIG. 23 is a plan view of the beverage pack of FIG. 21 with the shot glasses top insert attached;

FIG. 24 is a plan view of the beverage pack of FIG. 21;

FIG. 25 is a plan view of FIG. 21 with the top shot glass insert attached;

FIG. 26 is an end elevational view of another embodiment of the inventive beverage pack in a 24 straight shot glass configuration;

FIG. 27 is a perspective view of the embodiment of the beverage pack of FIG. 26 showing the shot glasses in phantom held in place by the shot glass insert assembly and the handle removed;

FIG. 28 is a plan view of the beverage pack of FIG. 26;

FIG. 29 is a plan view of the beverage pack of FIG. 26 with the shot glasses top row insert attached;

FIG. 30 is an end elevational view of the embodiment of the inventive beverage pack in a 24 tapered shot glass configuration;

FIG. 31 is a perspective view of the embodiment of the beverage pack of FIG. 30 showing the shot glasses in phantom and the handle removed;

FIG. 32 is a plan view of the beverage pack of FIG. 30; and

FIG. 33 is a plan view of the beverage pack of FIG. 30 with the shot glasses top row insert attached;

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed a beverage pack for filled shot glasses having a base with foldable side panels integral to the base.

The carrier for the drinkware of this invention (filled shot glasses) can be made out of any convenient material known in the art such as cardboard or paper board as having sufficient strength and rigidity while being adaptable to easy fabrication on a large scale. Other usable plastic materials include polyvinyl chloride, ABS, acrylics, polyethylene, polypropylene or impact polystyrene.

For all embodiments, the shot glass container or pack 50, 150, 250 and 350 is a triangular box made of cardboard similar in shape and size to carry on with shot glasses filled with different spirts. The container 50 may be composed of a rigid or semi-rigid material of sufficient strength to support the filled shot glasses and alcoholic beverage. The container is preferably composed of a light-shielding material to prevent light from denaturing the alcohol. Exemplary materials for the shot glass container include but are not limited to: cardboard, plastic, vinyl, polyethylene, wax-coated paperboard, plastic, cardboard, coated paperboard or impregnated recyclable paperboard or cardboard including paperboard or cardboard impregnated with hydrogenated triglycerides such as hydrogenated vegetable oils or hydrogenated animal fats which are presently in use for meat and poultry foodstuffs can also be used as the packaging material for the shot glass container.

Individual sealed shot glasses of variable size are packaged into convenient ‘party packs’ which may contain from 6 to 24 shot glasses. Each shot glass 52 may take the form of the standard straight cylindrical configuration 152 or the standard tapered configuration 252 as shown in FIG. 9. The respective shot glass 52 used is prefilled with the desired spirit and sealed with an adhesively attached die cut aluminum foil cap 53. Plastic caps 53 can also be adhesively attached or heat sealed to the shot glass 52 in a manner known to one skilled in the art. The shot glasses 52 themselves may be made of either glass or plastic and are mounted into convenient carry packs. Preferably the shot glasses 52 are made of plastic to reduce the weight of the container 50 and make it easily transportable. The shot glasses may contain a single type of liquor, or consist of variety packs with multiple different liquor types present. The packs are preferably made of cardboard but can be constructed of sheet plastic, have a carrying handle at the top and open up to reveal the individual shot glasses in quantities from 6 to 24 glasses. The shot glasses 52 are held in place by inserting them through holes in the packaging or inserts sealed to the package or are individually adhesively sealed. Each pack has a carrying handle, created with a fold-over tab underneath which prevents inadvertent opening of the pack in transit or a male/female connecting assembly.

A preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention is described below, and illustrated in in FIGS. 1 and 6-8. In this embodiment, which is a six shot glass configuration, the beverage package container 50 includes a planar base member 60 with foldable side cover members 62 and 64 integrally connected to the base member 60 by hinge fold lines 63 and 65. Each side cover member 62 and 64 is provided with a handle component 66 and 68, respectively. Handle integrity, security and comfort is provided with an integral tab 70 which is folded under the respective handle component and around the handle aperture 69 of the opposite handle component to form a one piece handle. Alternatively as shown in FIG. 3, each handle may have a tab 70′ which is adhesively secured to the tab 70′ of the other handle component. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, front and rear tabs 72 and 74 respectively can form a barrier over the front and rear of the beverage package container 50 as each set of tabs is adhesively secured together. Each inner side of the respective side cover holds a plurality of shot glasses 52 which are secured to the respective base or side by adhesive or mounted in an insert member 76 formed with apertures 78 such as that shown in FIGS. 3 and 5. If desired, the outer circumference of each aperture 78 may be formed with flexible tapered notches (not shown) projecting into the aperture 78 that allow the shot glass 52 to be securely seated in the aperture 78 to hold the shot glasses firmly in place. FIGS. 2 and 3 show a twelve shot glass variation and FIGS. 4 and 5 show a twenty-four shot glass variation.

Another preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention is described below, and illustrated in in FIGS. 10-14. In this embodiment, which is a six shot glass configuration using the cylindrical straight body shot glass 152, the beverage package container 150 includes a planar base member 160 with foldable side cover members 162 and 164 integrally connected to the base member 60 by hinge fold lines 163 and 165. One side cover member 162 defines a slot 168 and the other side cover member 164 is provided with a handle member 166 defining a carrying aperture 167. The handle member 166 is inserted through slot 168 which allows male/female mating of the handle components forming a closed chamber 170. A plurality of shot glasses 152 can be secured to the base 160 by adhesive or mounted in an insert member 176 with foldable end tabs 177 on each end. The insert member 176 is also formed with apertures 178 as is shown in FIGS. 12 and 14 which engage and hold the tops of the shot glasses 152. If desired, the outer circumference of each aperture 178 may be formed with flexible tapered notches (not shown) projecting into the aperture 178 that allow the respective shot glass 52 to be securely seated in the aperture 178 to hold the shot glasses firmly in place.

FIGS. 15-19 disclose the six shot glass container embodiment noted above using tapered body shot glasses 252. In this embodiment, the beverage package container 150 includes a planar base member 160 with foldable side cover members 162 and 164 integrally connected to the base member 160 by hinge fold lines 163 and 165. Side cover member 162 defines a slot 168 and the other side cover member 164 has a handle member 166 mounted thereto and defines a carrying aperture 167. The handle member 166 is inserted through slot 165 which allows male/female mating of the handle components forming a closed chamber 170. A plurality of shot glasses 252 can be secured to the base 160 by adhesive or mounted in an insert member 176 with foldable end tabs 177 on each end. The insert member 176 is also formed with apertures 178 as is shown in FIG. 19 which engages and holds the top of the tapered shot glasses 252. If desired, the outer circumference of each aperture 178 may be formed with flexible tapered notches (not shown) projecting into each aperture 178 that allow the respective shot glass 252 to be securely seated in the aperture 178 to hold the shot glasses firmly in place.

Another embodiment in accordance with the present invention is described below, and illustrated in in FIGS. 20-25. In this embodiment, a package container 250 with a twelve shot glass configuration using either straight cylindrical shot glasses 152 or tapered shot classes 252 is disclosed. The beverage package container 250 includes a planar base member 260 with foldable side cover members 262 and 264 integrally connected to the base member 260 by hinge fold lines 263 and 265 as seen in FIGS. 22 and 24. One side cover member 264 is provided with a handle component 266 having an oval grip aperture 267 and the other side cover member 262 has a fold tab 268 which defines a slot 270 which allows male/female mating of the handle 266. A plurality of shot glasses 52 are optionally secured to the base 260 by adhesive or mounted to an insert member 276 formed with apertures or cutouts 278 and opposite foldable end tabs 280 such as is shown in FIGS. 23 and 25. The insert member 276 has apertures 278 fit over the mouth of the mounted shot glasses and engage and hold the tops of the shot glasses. If desired, the outer circumference of each aperture 278 may be formed with flexible tapered notches (not shown) projecting into the aperture 278 that allow the shot glass 52 to be securely seated in the aperture 278 to hold the shot glasses firmly in place.

Still another embodiment in accordance with the present invention is described below, and illustrated in in FIGS. 26-33. In this embodiment, which is a container 350 with a twenty-four shot glass configuration using either straight cylindrical shot glasses 152 or tapered shot classes 252, the beverage package container 350 includes a planar base member 360 with foldable side cover members 362 and 364 integrally connected to the base member 360 by hinge fold lines 363 and 365 as seen in FIGS. 28 and 32. Side cover member 364 is provided with a handle component 366 having oval grip aperture 367. The other side cover member 362 has a fold tab 368 which defines a slot 370 which allows male/female mating of the handle components. A plurality of shot glasses 52 are optionally secured to the base 360 by adhesive or mounted to an insert member 376 formed with apertures or cutouts 378 and end tabs 380 such as that shown in FIGS. 29 and 33. The insert member 376 apertures 378 fit over the mouth of the mounted shot glasses. If desired, the outer circumference of each aperture 378 may be formed with flexible tapered notches (not shown) projecting into the aperture 378 that allow each shot glass 52 to be securely seated in the aperture 378 to hold the shot glasses firmly in place.

A second insert member 386 is provided with apertures 388 which fit over the mouth of the top row of stacked shot glasses. This second insert section or member 386 is also provided with end tabs 390 which act in the same manner as previously disclosed.

Part of the utility of the invention resides in the inter changeability in that one or more units of distilled spirits or liquor (the two terms will be used interchangeably herein), which may be of 40 mL volume, are included. The packaging carries 6, 12 or 24 filled shots. All shot glass containers for the three (6, 12, 24) variations noted are provided with the same numerical designations.

The container component of the bundled configuration is made of a sturdy material that allows it to contain the individual beverage filled shot glasses without tearing or disintegrating. In the disclosed embodiments, the container or box is made of cardboard similar in shape and size to a typical package of six canned beverages, except that it contains only spirits sealed in shot glasses. The general concept of this container can be extended to fit beverages of other numbers, particularly but not exclusively including factors of six, such as twelve, eighteen, twenty-four, and thirty-two individual beverage units.

The principles, preferred embodiments and modes of operation of the present invention have been described in the foregoing specification. However, the invention should not be construed as limited to the particular embodiments which have been described above. Instead, the embodiments described here should be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive. Variations and changes may be made by others without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined by the following claims: 

What we claim is:
 1. A beverage package comprising a base member, a cover means mounted to said base member, said cover means comprising a hinged flap with a handle mounted thereto on opposite sides of said base member, insert means mounted to at least one of said base member and hinged flaps, said insert means holding and supporting a plurality of shot glasses, each of said shot glasses being filled with a liquid and a sealed, removable lid mounted to each of said shot glass or securing said liquid within said shot glasses.
 2. A beverage package as claimed in claim 1 wherein said plurality of shot glasses contain alcoholic spirits and each shot glass is sealed with a removable lid.
 3. A beverage package as claimed in claim 1 wherein said base member is planar and is formed with a plurality of seats for said shot glasses;
 4. A beverage package as claimed in claim 1 wherein said package is constructed of plastic;
 5. A beverage package as claimed in claim 1 wherein said package is constructed of paper.
 6. A beverage package as claimed in claim 1 wherein said package is constructed of recycled paper.
 7. An alcoholic beverage package, said package comprising a base member, a plurality of upper cover flap members integral to and hinged to said base member, a handle member mounted to an outer surface of one of said upper cover flap members, said handle member being adapted to fit into a slot defined an ay opposite flap member allowing the flap members to be secured together forming a chamber; and a plurality of filled shot glasses mounted inside said chamber and supported by said base, said shot glasses being held in place within said chamber by an insert member secured to said base and engaging said shot glasses.
 8. An alcoholic beverage package as claimed in claim 7 wherein said a plurality of shot glasses contain alcoholic spirts and each shot glass is sealed with a removable lid.
 9. An alcoholic beverage package as claimed in claim 7 wherein said insert is secured to said base and extends over the top of said shot glasses engaging said shot glasses.
 10. An alcoholic beverage package as claimed in claim 7 wherein said package is constructed of recyclable paper.
 11. An alcoholic beverage package as claimed in claim 9 including a second insert member defining a plurality of spaced apertures which hold said shot glasses in a spaced relationship.
 12. An alcoholic beverage package as claimed in claim 7 wherein said plurality of shot glasses is at least 6 shot glasses.
 13. An alcoholic beverage package as claimed in claim 7 wherein said plurality of shot glasses is 12 shot glasses.
 14. An alcoholic beverage package as claimed in claim 7 wherein said plurality of shot glasses is 24 shot glasses.
 15. An alcoholic beverage package as claimed in claim 7 wherein said package is constructed of plastic.
 16. An alcoholic beverage package, said package comprising a base member, a plurality of upper cover flap members integral to and hinged to said base member, a handle member mounted to an outer surface of one of said upper cover flap members, said handle member being adapted to fit into a slot defined by an opposite flap member allowing the flap members to be secured together forming a chamber; and a plurality of shot glasses mounted inside said chamber and supported by said base, said shot glasses being held in place within said chamber by an insert member mounted to said base and engaging said shot glasses, each of said shot glasses containing an alcoholic liquid beverage and being sealed with a removable lid.
 17. An alcoholic beverage package as claimed in claim 16 wherein said chamber is sized to hold at least 6 liquid filled shot glasses.
 18. An alcoholic beverage package as claimed in claim 16 wherein base member has a second integral foldable insert secured thereto provided with a plurality of spaced apertures which hold and space said shot glasses.
 19. An alcoholic beverage package is claimed in claim 16 wherein said removable lid is adhesively secured to a lip of said shot glass.
 20. An alcoholic beverage package is claimed in claim 16 wherein said removable lid is heat sealed to a lip of said shot glass. 